Wire reading stand



March 5, 1963 F. HARVEL ETAL 3,079,724

WIRE READING smm Filed Feb. 7, 1961 I r Loyd F Harve/ Russell 5. Guar/naINVENTORS @nited Federated Mar. 5, 1963 3,079,724 WlRE READTNG STANDLoyd F. laurel, 432 W. Central, Bethaito, Ill., and Russell S. Guarino,290 Smith St., East Alton, Eli. Filed Feb. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 87,572 2Claims. (Ci. -57) This invention relates to a novel and useful stand forsupporting newspapers and the like in an upright position.

The newspaper stand of the instant invention is characterized by a clipwhich is fashioned from a single length of wire, said clip embodying apair of elongated upstanding open frame-like members each havingparallel opposite side portions. vIntegral means are provided forconnecting the frame-like members at their lower ends and theconstruction of the frame-like members is such that they are normallyurged toward each other. The frame members are of the same Width and arethus registrable with each other. A stand base is provided for retainingthe frame-like members in an upstanding position and the article to besupported is positioned between the confronting surfaces of theframe-like members whose inherent resiliency will frictionally grip thearticle or newspaper disposed therebetween. Each of the frame-likemembers is provided with a laterally projecting support member whichprojects toward the other of the frame members. The support members arecarried by opposite side portions of the frame-like members on whichthey are disposed and thus the two laterally projecting support membersare spaced at opposite sides of the registered open frame-like membersto provide two spaced supporting surfaces upon which the article beingsupported by the stand may have its lower edge engaged with in order toprovide additional support for the article engaged with the stand.

The main object of this invention is to provide a stand for flexibleprinted material such as TV guides, newspapers and the like that may beutilized to support the printed material in a manner whereby one entireside of the printed material may be viewed with a minimum amount of theprinted material being obstructed.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide an article stand which will in additionto supporting the article in an upright position also tightlyfrictionally grip the article so that the latter may not be accidentallydislodged from engagement with the stand by means of circulating air orhaving a solid object accidentally brushed against the article.

A still further object of this invention, in accordance with thepreceding objects, is to provide an article stand which will have apleasing appearance in order that it may be utilized as desired in roomsin which substantially all ty es of decor are used.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide an article stand which will conform to conventional forms ofmanufacture, is of simple construction and easy to use so as to providea device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relativelytrouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the article stand of the instantinvention shown being utilized to support a flexible panel-like memberdiagrammatically representing any type of flexible printed material;

FIGURE 2 is a view observing FIGURE 1 in a direction from left to rightand with the base appearing in section; and

'FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 33 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates the article stand of the instant invention which isshown in the drawings supporting a flexible panel member 12.

The article stand of the instant invention includes a base generallydesignated by the reference numeral 14 and an article gripping andholding clip characterized by a pair of elongated upstanding openframe-like members generally designated by the reference numerals i6 and18. Each of the open frame-like members constitutes a clamping jaw andcomprises an inverted U-shaped member 20 including a pair of oppositecoplanar side portions or legs 22 and 24 which are interconnected attheir upper ends by means of a curved bight portion 26. The legs 22 and24 of each U-shaped member 20 are substantially parallel although it isto be noted that they may be inclined relative to each other and thelegs 22 and 24 of each U-shaped member or jaw 2b are positionedsimilarly relative to the positioning of the legs 22 and 24 of the otherU-shaped member 29. The U-shaped members 26 are interconnected by meansof a unitary connecting element 28 the median or crest portion of whichis perched atop and fixedly secured to the head 30 of a fastener 32which in turn is secured through a bore 34 formed in the base 14 bymeans of a nut 36. Thus, it will be noted that the U-shaped members orframe-like members 20 are rigidly secured in an upright positionrelative to the base 14. The base 14 may be provided with a covering 38over its lower surface 40 for preventing the base from marring objectson which it is placed. The covering 38 may be of felt or any othersuitable material.

The leg 24 of each U-shaped member 29 is somewhat longer than the leg 22thereof and the unitary connecting element 28 is disposed between thelower ends of the longer legs 24. In addition, each of the longer legs'24- is provided with a laterally projecting support member in the formof a loop 42 which projects toward the plane in which the other U-shapedmember is disposed.

The bight portion 26 of the frame-like member 18 is lower than the bightportion 26 of the frame memberlike member 26 and is laterally deflectedat its upper portion away from the plane in which the frame-like member20 is disposed. The lateral deflection of the upper portion of the bightportion 26 of the frame-like member 18 forms an upwardly openingV-shaped notch between the upper ends of the frame-like members 18 and29 for facilitating the placement of the panel 12 therebetween.

The base 14- may be of any configuration although it is mostconveniently rectangular in plan provided with a substantially flat topwall 44 whose marginal portions .-6 are downwardly and outwardlybeveled.

While the laterally deflected portion 43 of the open frame-like member18 serves to facilitate the placement of the panel 12 between theU-shaped members 20, it will be noted that the side portions 22 and 24are registered with each other so as to enable the panel 12 to besupported therebetween without creasing the panel 12.

Additionally, the loops 42 provide additional upwardly opening V-shapednotches in which the lower edge 48 of the panel is received in order toprovide two points of contact for the lower edge 48 at spaced pointslongitudinally therealong. Thus, not only is the panel 12 frictionallygripped between the U-shaped members 20, but the lower edge 48 thereofis supported in a manner which would itself be sufiicient to support thepanel 12. However, the frictional gripping of the panel 12 between theU-shaped members 20 is desired in order that the panel 12 will notbecome cocked or accidentally dislodged. In

addition, the loops 42 are beneficial when used in connection with thefrictional gripping aiforded by the U shtped members 2%; inasmuch assince the lower edge i8 01'' the panel is supported at two points spacedlongitudinally therealong the panel 12 will not become cocked relativeto the stand it? while frictionally gripped between the cl-shapedrnembersld.

It will be noted that the loops 42 on each leg 24 are formed thereonbelow the lower end of the adjacent leg 22 of the other U-shaped member20. Thus, the loops 4-2 may be directed toward the opposite U-shapedmember 2%.

It will be noted that the frame-like members 13 and 2% are unitary andconnected by the unitary connecting element 2'3 disposed therebetweenwhereby the entire clarnping assembly may be constructed of a singlepiece of wire.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

'What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A stand for removably supporting a newspaper, booklet or similararticle in an upright readable position comprising: a portable base, apair of cooperatively associated vertically elongated upstanding openframe-like members, each member being of inverted U-shaped form andembodying a pair of spaced parallel coplanar legs having upper endsthereof joined by a bight portion, the legs of one member being opposedto and aligned with corresponding legs of the other member, meansconnecting the lower end portions of said members together, said meanscomprising a connecting element unitary with cooperating legs of saidframe-like members, means joined to said connecting element and mountingthe same on said base, said frame-like members and said connectingelement being constructed of a single piece of Wire, one leg of eachmember being short and the other leg long, each of the longer legs ofsaid frame-like members including a laterally projecting article supportmember disposed in a plane below the plane of the respective shorterlegs of the respective frame-like members.

2. A portable stand for use on a table or the like to clampingly hold anewspaper, magazine, card or the like in an erect readily viewable andreadable position comprising: in combination, a portable base embodyinga block having a padded anti-slipping bottom to rest atop said table,said block having a central vertical bore whose lower end iscounterbored, a bolt passing downwardly through said bore and having anut-retained end confined in the counterbore, an upper end of said bolthaving a head exposed above a top surface of said block, and an articleholding clip extending vertically above the central bored portion ofsaid block, said clip embodying a pair of similarly constructed invertedU-haped open frame-like members each constituting an article clampingjaw, said frame-like members each being of the same width, one memberbeing or" a length different from the length of the other one, the lowerends of said members being joined together by an arcuately bentconnecting element, and the mediancrest of said connecting element beingfixed atop said head, said clip being fashioned from a single length ofwire bent upon itself to define said bent connecting element and alsosaid jaws, each frame-like member embodying a long leg and a short leg,said legs having their upper ends joined by a bight portion, the lowerends of the respective short legs being free and the lower ends of thelong legs being joined to the respectively cooperating ends of said bentconnecting element, said wire at the juncture of said lower ends andcooperating ends of said bent connecting element being coiled and formedinto laterally projecting loops, said loops providing limit stops forthe lower end of the article which is positioned between the jaws, andsaid stops being positioned in a common plane, a plane which is belowthe plane of the free lower ends of the respective short legs.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.12,171 McGill Nov. 17, 1903 901,818 McStay Oct. 20, 1908 1,949,607Harrold Mar. 4, 1934 2,196,118 McKelvie Apr. 2, 1949 2,603,357 ZakOSJuly 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 445,379 France Sept. 2,- 1912

1. A STAND FOR REMOVABLY SUPPORTING A NEWSPAPER, BOOKLET OR SIMILARARTICLE IN AN UPRIGHT READABLE POSITION COMPRISING: A PORTABLE BASE, APAIR OF COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED VERTICALLY ELONGATED UPSTANDING OPENFRAME-LIKE MEMBERS, EACH MEMBER BEING OF INVERTED U-SHAPED FORM ANDEMBODYING A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL COPLANAR LEGS HAVING UPPER ENDSTHEREOF JOINED BY A BIGHT PORTION, THE LEGS OF ONE MEMBER BEING OPPOSEDTO AND ALIGNED WITH CORRESPONDING LEGS OF THE OTHER MEMBER, MEANSCONNECTING THE LOWER END PORTIONS OF SAID MEMBERS TOGETHER, SAID MEANSCOMPRISING A CONNECTING ELEMENT UNITARY WITH COOPERATING LEGS OF SAIDFRAME-LIKE MEMBERS, MEANS JOINED TO SAID CONNECTING ELEMENT AND MOUNTINGTHE SAME ON SAID BASE, SAID FRAME-LIKE MEMBERS AND SAID CONNECTINGELEMENT BEING CONSTRUCTED OF A SINGLE PIECE OF WIRE, ONE LEG OF EACHMEMBER BEING SHORT AND THE OTHER LEG LONG, EACH OF THE LONGER LEGS OFSAID FRAME-LIKE MEMBERS INCLUDING A LATERALLY PROJECTING ARTICLE SUPPORTMEMBER DISPOSED IN A PLANE BELOW THE PLANE OF THE RESPECTIVE SHORTERLEGS OF THE RESPECTIVE FRAME-LIKE MEMBERS.